Osama’s killing evidence of terrorists’ ‘sanctuaries’ in Pakistan

New Delhi: India said that the killing of al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden near Islamabad is another evidence that terrorists find “sanctuary” in Pakistan.

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Monday in a statement, “We take note with grave concern that part of the statement in which President Obama said that the firefight in which Osama bin Laden was killed took place in Abbottabad ‘deep inside Pakistan.”

Reiterating India’s belief that perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks – blamed on Pakistan-based militants – continue to be sheltered in Pakistan, the minister urged Islamabad to arrest suspects identified by Indian intelligence.

India has long accused Pakistan of providing shelter and logistical support to militant groups planning attacks on Indian soil.

Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said the death of bin Laden was an “historic development and victorious milestone,” and, in another clear reference to Pakistan, stressed the need to root out militant safe havens in South Asia.

“Over the years, thousands of innocent lives of men, women and children have been tragically lost at the hands of terrorist groups.

“The world must not let down its united effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safe havens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorists in our own neighbourhood. The struggle must continue unabated,” Krishna said.